EXTRA SHAMROCKS

As part of Shamrock City, Rock City is partnering with the Chattanooga district of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Visitors can purchase green shamrocks for $1 and gold shamrocks for $5 through Thursday, March 1-27, to help supply needed funds to local families with muscular dystrophy.

Hate to wait until March 17 to get your Irish on? You're in luck.

Rock City is planning an Irish festival so pervasive the next two weekends that even the waterfall will turn green.

Musicians playing Celtic music will include Olta, Celtic Plain, The Molly Maguires, Pay the Reckoning, Jennifer Daniels, John Lathim and Michelle Young on designated days. The Chattanooga Pipe Band will be roaming through the gardens daily.

Performances of traditional Celtic dances also will be offered. If you feel so inspired, you can learn how to dance the Irish jig.

Shamrock City also highlights a menu of Irish and Irish-themed foods, such as mulligan stew, corned beef and cabbage, Reuben sandwiches and green kettle corn, along with specialty beer brewed at Big River Grille and Green Shamrock Wine from Georgia Winery. Rock City's famous fudge, made while you watch, will be tinted green.

Kids activities include a treasure map adventure, panning for gold, a climbing wall to kiss the blarney stone, face painting and lucky lollipops. (Some activities have additional charges, ranging from $3 to $9.)

Shamrock City has been selected a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society the past four years.